Former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai, has narrated the unusual circumstances surrounding the rescue of a Chibok schoolgirl who reportedly expressed a desire to return to the Boko Haram insurgents after being reunited with her family.
Rufai shared the account while speaking at an international security forum in Qatar, where he examined the difficulties security agencies face in rescuing, rehabilitating and reintegrating individuals who have spent extended periods in terrorist captivity.
The abduction of 276 students from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014, remains one of the most prominent kidnapping incidents in Nigeria’s history. The incident attracted widespread international condemnation, while subsequent military operations, escapes and negotiations secured the release of some of the victims. However, several others remained in captivity for years, with some reportedly subjected to forced marriages and other forms of abuse by their captors.
Providing further insight into the complexities of terrorist-related kidnappings, Rufai explained that abductions were often driven by varying objectives, including ideological beliefs, political demands and financial interests. He noted that understanding these motivations was essential in determining the appropriate response by security agencies.
Recounting the experience of one rescued Chibok victim, the former intelligence chief disclosed that the woman had been married to three Boko Haram fighters during her time in captivity. Her first two husbands were reportedly killed during confrontations with security forces.
He explained that she was eventually rescued and transported to Abuja, where she underwent medical examinations and security debriefing as part of efforts to assess her condition and facilitate her reintegration into society.
According to Rufai, the woman appeared to have developed a close relationship with a senior Boko Haram commander who reportedly assumed a parental role in her life and arranged subsequent marriages for her after the deaths of her husbands.
He said, “She had a godfather who was a zonal commander of the terrorist group, who adopted her as a daughter. Each time she lost her husband in the fight, he would be the one to get her a new husband.”
Rufai disclosed that the woman’s reaction following her rescue presented an unexpected challenge. Although she was happy to see her biological parents again, she reportedly showed little willingness to remain with them or permanently leave the environment in which she had spent years.
Describing the circumstances, he said, “She loved them. She wanted to see them, and so on. And then the third interesting thing is that we subjected her to medical checks and found her to be very healthy. But the interesting thing is that she wanted to go back,” he said.
The former NIA director explained that the incident illustrated the psychological and social complexities associated with rescuing individuals who have spent considerable periods within terrorist-controlled communities. He noted that prolonged exposure to such environments could create emotional attachments and relationships that complicate efforts to return victims to their previous lives.
Addressing the broader issue of hostage-taking, Rufai identified different reasons terrorist organisations resort to kidnapping, stressing that not every abduction was necessarily intended to generate ransom payments.
He maintained that some insurgent groups used kidnappings primarily as a political instrument to attract attention to their demands and publicise their causes.
“In most cases, it was political, to make their case known,” he said.
However, Rufai explained that a different strategy was required when kidnappers were motivated by financial considerations. In such circumstances, he said, discreet engagement and negotiations could provide a means of securing the freedom of captives.
“In a situation where they really needed money, they would let it be known, and there, in that kind of situation, you have to use what we discussed yesterday: hostage diplomacy, and it has to be through back channels,” he said.
He added that such engagements could be facilitated by intermediaries who maintained trusted relationships with the criminal groups, making it possible to establish communication and negotiate the release of hostages.
According to him, confidentiality was particularly important in hostage negotiations, as public disclosure of sensitive discussions could undermine efforts to secure the victims’ freedom.
Rufai also drew a distinction between ideologically motivated terrorist organisations and criminal kidnapping networks, arguing that the latter were largely driven by financial interests rather than religious or political convictions.
Explaining the difference, he said, “They are not ideologically driven. They have no ideology. They want to enjoy life. They are not looking forward to dying and going to paradise. Their paradise is here,” he said.
The former intelligence chief described kidnapping for ransom as a serious national security concern in Nigeria, noting that the government continued to face considerable challenges in tackling the criminal enterprise.
He further revealed that some of the criminal networks operating in the country were involved in a broader range of illegal activities beyond abductions, including arms trafficking, vehicle theft and attacks against security operatives.
